Genesis 29
1 Jacob set out and went to the land of the people of the East.
2 He looked and saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying near it, because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large.
3 When all the flocks gathered there, they rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, watered the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They answered, “We are from Haran.”
5 He asked them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s son?” They answered, “We do.”
6 He asked, “Is he well?” They answered, “He is. Look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”
7 Jacob said, “It is still the middle of the day; it is not time to gather the flock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8 They answered, “We cannot until all the flocks have gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, he went over, rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, raised his voice, and wept.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother and Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his home. Jacob told Laban everything that had happened.
14 Laban said to him, “You really are my own flesh and blood.” And Jacob stayed with him a whole month.
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Laban had two daughters. The older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel.
17 Leah’s eyes were gentle, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Laban answered, “It is better for me to give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.”
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but they seemed to him like only a few days because he loved her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is up, and I want to lie with her.”
22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and held a feast.
23 That evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her.
24 Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.
25 In the morning, there was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why did you deceive me?”
26 Laban answered, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter before the older one.
27 Complete this daughter’s wedding week, and then we will give you the other one too, in return for the work you will do for me for another seven years.”
28 Jacob did so and completed Leah’s wedding week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 Jacob also lay with Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.
31 The LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction; now my husband will love me.”
33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, “The LORD has heard that I am unloved, and he has given me this son too.” So she named him Simeon.
34 She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, “Now, this time, my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
35 She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
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